Vascular endothelial growth factor-B-deficient mice display an atrial conduction defect

• Published in: Circulation (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 104; no. 3; pp. 358 - 364
• Main Authors: AASE, Karin, VON EULER, Gabriel, ALITALO, Kari, BETSHOLTZ, Christer, ERIKSSON, Ulf, XURI LI, PONTEN, Annica, THOREN, Peter, RENHAI CAO, YIHAI CAO, OLOFSSON, Birgitta, GEBRE-MEDHIN, Samuel, PEKNY, Milos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 17-07-2001; American Heart Association, Inc
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Cell Count; Electrocardiography; Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac; Endothelial Growth Factors - deficiency; Endothelial Growth Factors - genetics; Endothelial Growth Factors - metabolism; Endothelial Growth Factors - pharmacology; Eye - blood supply; Eye - drug effects; Female; Fertility - genetics; Fetal Viability - genetics; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 - pharmacology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression - physiology; Gene Targeting; Heart; Heart Atria - growth & development; Heart Atria - physiopathology; Heart Conduction System - physiopathology; Homozygote; Lymphokines - pharmacology; Male; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Neovascularization, Physiologic - drug effects; Neovascularization, Physiologic - physiology; Organ Size; Phenotype; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor B; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; Vertebrates: cardiovascular system; Heart; Angiogenesis; Conduction; Atrium; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Vascular endothelium growth factor; Mouse; Animal; Rodentia; Physiology; Circulatory system
• ISSN: 0009-7322; 1524-4539; 1524-4539
• DOI: 10.1161/01.cir.104.3.358

Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) and their receptors are essential regulators of vasculogenesis and angiogenesis in both embryos and adults. One of the factors with a still unknown physiological function is VEGF-B, which is expressed in many tissues, including the heart.
Mice carrying a targeted deletion in the VEGF-B gene were developed. In VEGF-B(-/-) animals, no gross abnormalities were observed in organs that normally show high expression of VEGF-B, such as the heart, muscle, and kidney. Analysis of heart function by ECG showed that adult VEGF-B(-/-) mice have an atrial conduction abnormality characterized by a prolonged PQ interval. VEGF- or basic fibroblast growth factor-induced corneal angiogenesis was similar in normal and VEGF-B(-/-) mice.
VEGF-B seems to be required for normal heart function in adult animals but is not required for proper development of the cardiovascular system either during development or for angiogenesis in adults.